Walt Disney World has introduced the timeline for Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets, which can substitute Aerosmith in 2026. This covers every little thing we all know concerning the thrill trip reimagining, and if you would possibly anticipate the previous coaster to shut & new attraction to debut. (Up to date August 17, 2025.)
The very first thing we all know thus far is that Monsters, Inc. Door Coaster and Monstropolis mini-land is getting began a lot before anticipated, with PizzeRizzo, MuppetVision 3D and the remainder of Muppets Courtyard all now closed. Partitions are actually up round Muppets Courtyard, leaving open solely Ice Chilly Hydraulics, Baseline Faucet Home, and the Grand Avenue thoroughfare into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Work has gotten began within the former Muppets Courtyard, with the long-shuttered Stage 1 Firm Retailer already demolished. Themed parts and props have additionally been eliminated, as Imagineering works to rework the realm to the Monsters, Inc. land. This units the stage for work over on Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster…
When saying the closure of Muppets Courtyard, Walt Disney World revealed that Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and extra of their associates shall be shifting proper alongside to Sundown Boulevard. The Muppets shall be taking on Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster, teaming up with a few of music’s greatest stars for a rockin’ music pageant. Because of a recent replace, we now have new particulars concerning the timing of this transfer.
Featured on the poster for Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets are the entire above-mentioned Muppets plus Dr. Tooth and the Electrical Mayhem Band, together with Floyd Pepper, Janice, Lips, Animal, and Zoot. It’s unclear of whether or not these are “a few of music’s greatest stars” or if that’s a reference to non-Muppets music that’ll be performed on the coaster.
It’s attainable that the Muppets are used because the storytelling system within the queue and pre-show, however the trip expertise options mainstream music (a la Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind). Through which case, possibly Aerosmith gained’t be completely evicted, in any case!
As the primary Disney trip ever to characteristic The Muppets, there’s positive to be laughter, screams and new tunes for this attraction for followers to take pleasure in all through the journey and loads of Muppets-themed merchandise on Sundown Boulevard! Within the meantime, there’s nonetheless sufficient time to catch a super-stretch limo to the Discussion board to take pleasure in Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith.
In keeping with a brand new Walt Disney World press launch, Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith is now formally set to shut in 2026 for its trip reimagining. This nonetheless doesn’t specify a day, month, and even season but, however it does reveal that the reimagined Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets may even open someday in 2026.
From this, we are able to surmise a bit extra concerning the closing and opening timeframes for each variations of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster. However first, right here’s a enjoyable video from Fozzie Bear in honor of Nationwide Curler Coaster Day:
Completely satisfied Nationwide Curler Coaster Day! Walt Disney World shared a video of Fozzie Bear at Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster, the long run house of The Muppets! 👀 pic.twitter.com/KngpCD7Qq2
— Drew Smith (@DrewDisneyDude) August 16, 2025
Clearly, there’s no new info right here. This video is solely for enjoyable, whereas additionally serving as a reminder that the Muppets takeover of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster remains to be taking place. That second half is considerably essential, as some followers stay satisfied that this undertaking goes to be quietly cancelled.
The idea with that is that the Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster overlay was solely introduced to placate followers, providing an olive department in order that they’d be extra “accepting” of the MuppetVision closure. I’ve heard from a number of sources that this isn’t the case, and that there’s been lively manufacturing for the queue and pre-show for some time now. Past that, it’s my understanding that this can be a ardour undertaking for Imagineering. Even when I hadn’t heard this stuff, the concept that this Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster announcement occurred solely as subterfuge makes zero sense. Followers have been nonetheless upset about shedding MuppetVision, after which they’d be upset once more if this overlay didn’t occur. It will solely delay the outrage cycle!
In any case, it’s unclear after we’ll hear extra about Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets. The upcoming Vacation spot D23 occasion at Walt Disney World doesn’t have a Parks Panel, which is after we’d anticipate to listen to updates about 2026 initiatives like this. It additionally doesn’t have any Muppets-specific displays. There’s one other upcoming preview occasion at Walt Disney World later this month, so maybe it’ll be mentioned then. If not, someday in the course of the vacation season tv specials on ABC is another choice, or simply through random press releases and social media movies that includes the Muppets, like what we’ve already seen. We’ll maintain you posted!
Right here’s the unique announcement video from Kermit the Frog:
Hello Ho everybody! @TheMuppets are packing up and shifting to Sundown Blvd for his or her first ever coaster! Seize your guitar (or banjo), as a result of Rock ’N’ Curler Coaster Starring @TheMuppets speeds into Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2026! pic.twitter.com/ldltI3dGmi
— Walt Disney World (@WaltDisneyWorld) June 7, 2025
As a fast apart, I’m nonetheless not used to that voice. Though it does make me wish to give Gonzo’s home made laundry chute curler coaster a go, and it’s good to have this replace on Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets simply as a reminder that it’s nonetheless on the horizon.
For additional hypothesis about when Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith will shut in 2026–and when RnRC Starring the Muppets will open–we must always look to different undertaking timelines at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and past.
One factor we’ve already seen not too long ago is the brand new Villains Unfairly Ever After and Little Mermaid Musical Journey stage exhibits each debuted concurrently round Memorial Day. That was a very good transfer from a advertising and marketing perspective, because it offered a splashier package deal than a single stage present. Nonetheless not fairly sufficient to compete with Epic Universe, however they tried!
Wanting down the street into 2026, there’s an identical setup at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as soon as once more. The New Mission that includes Mandalorian & Child Yoda for Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run debuts on Might 22, 2026.
Within the case of the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attraction, that date isn’t being chosen strategically for the sake of Walt Disney World. Might 22, 2026 is just when the brand new film debuts.
At this level, it’s unclear whether or not that’ll necessitate a closure or be performed in a single day like the brand new scenes in Star Excursions. As a extra elaborate attraction, my hope is that Smugglers Run will go down for at the least a couple of weeks for minor modifications to make the queue and pre-show mesh with the mission. Who is aware of, although.
In any case, we’re skeptical that Walt Disney World could be prepared to have Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster and Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run closed for refurbishment on the similar time. They’re two main thrill rides which might be fairly common and assist take in crowds. Whereas having them each debut on Might 22, 2026 would make for an intriguing advertising and marketing package deal, I’m greater than a bit skeptical that’ll occur.
Not simply due to the refurbishments, both. (Once more, it’s nonetheless unclear Smugglers Run can have any downtime.) There’s additionally the truth that the brand new mission for Smugglers Run is a Star Wars advertising and marketing device, at the least partly, so it’s extra probably that Disney will package deal a collection of enhancements round that in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
We’re addressing all of this as a result of there’s the chance that we’re incorrect, and Might 22 is the goal debut date for Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets. That’s not a foul guess, and at this level, there’s actually nothing else on the calendar to purpose for.
With that in thoughts, one other factor to contemplate is the time limit of DINOSAUR over at Animal Kingdom. Whereas that’s but to be formally introduced, each signal factors to mid-January 2026 after the vacation rush of crowds and Walt Disney World Marathon is over. It’s solely attainable that Disney will take the identical strategy with RnRC, and likewise shut that in mid-January. This might set the desk for Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets to debut across the begin of Spring Break season.
One other risk is far later within the yr, with RnRC Starring Aerosmith closing after the top of Spring Break season (mid-April 2026) or after the top of summer time (mid-August 2026). Through which case, Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets may debut in June or July 2026 or between Fall Break and Veterans Day 2026. One other very actual risk is that the closure and opening happen seemingly at random, one thing that’s been occurring increasingly with Walt Disney World closures and openings.
But when that is strategic (and it most likely is since DHS has capability constraints), the purpose could be shedding the RnRC capability when it’s wanted the least, and gaining the capability of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets proper earlier than an enormous vacationer season. We’d totally anticipate that to be how this performs out.
There’s additionally the query of simply how lengthy the Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster reimagining will take. Take a look at Observe goes to finish up being closed for over a yr. Ditto Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad. DINOSAUR’s conversion into Indiana Jones Journey will (hopefully) take at the least 18 months.
If RnRC’s reimagining is comparable, Walt Disney World would possibly as an alternative work backwards from the best reopening timeframe to dictate the closure date. Through which case, you would possibly assume that since Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets goes to open someday in 2026, the model Starring Aerosmith wants to shut ASAP in 2026 to accommodate. We may be speaking a January closing simply to have an opportunity at a November 2026 opening!
We strongly suspect the RnRC reimagining gained’t take anyplace close to that lengthy. The curler coaster monitor and format are nearly definitely going to stay unchanged inside the present gravity constructing, and modifications to any of that’s what would balloon the timeline of this undertaking. It’s most likely not getting a brand new facade or any structural modifications to the outside.
Given the idea artwork, we all know the trip automobiles usually are not altering (other than cosmetically). It’s additionally probably that the load space, launch, and unload will probably keep the identical. If we needed to guess, Imagineering will create story contrivances that provide appreciable overlap with Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith.
Possibly it’ll be the Muppets racing to get from their studio on the Jim Henson Firm Lot in Hollywood to Downtown Los Angeles for a present. That will enable for lots of what’s presently a part of RnRC to stay unchanged. In all probability, that is going to be what they name a “no dough” reimagining–that’s most likely how Imagineering received the pitch accredited within the first place.
Being a curler coaster at the hours of darkness with minimal props, there’s most likely an honest quantity of prepwork that might be performed after hours whereas Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith remains to be operational with out visitors noticing. It’s additionally solely attainable that the present props don’t actually change if the attraction retains the Los Angeles live performance conceit.
The trickier and time-consuming modifications will occur within the queue and pre-show. Even then, it’s our understanding that Disney has contingency plans in place that might enable the corporate to take away all references to Aerosmith in a single day. That Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster may proceed working, with out closure, within the occasion of an Aerosmith scandal that required Disney to distance itself from the band instantly. That is nothing new–these plans have been most likely formulated in the course of the attraction’s improvement.
This similar contingency plan may enable for a reimagining with minimal downtime. In case you’ve performed RnRC early within the morning, late at night time, or throughout After Hours occasions, you would possibly know that it’s typically attainable to bypass the pre-show. It is because, not like many different sights, the non-skippable security spiel isn’t in the course of the pre-show.
With the doorways open on that pre-show room permitting for visitors to go by means of, this theoretically opens the door for the Muppets Mayhem takeover to return to life with out RnRC ever taking place for refurbishment. Which means it may shut as “Starring Aerosmith” at some point and reopen as “Starring the Muppets” the following. This isn’t what we anticipate to occur–simply illustrating the chance to underscore how work might be performed whereas the trip is operational. That is how the Jungle Cruise reimagining was performed post-COVID, for reference.
Actually, I hope this isn’t the case–and doubt it will likely be. Much less downtime is the worst-case state of affairs from my perspective, because it means the ambitiousness of the reimagining and its funds are low.
It will imply we nearly definitely aren’t getting any of the Audio Animatronics from MuppetVision 3D or every other “meaty” additions to Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster. Which may be a welcome reduction to these of you who’re holding out hope for a real preservation of MuppetVision 3D, and maybe the creation of a Muppets Courtyard again right here when Villains Unfairly Ever After ends its run.
Actually, I’m the other. Whereas I’d love for Disney to carry again the MuppetVision belongings for a revival of that present, I simply don’t see it taking place in any sensible state of affairs. And alternatively, the much less that’s invested in Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets, the extra probably it’s that this is the stopgap answer.
It’s solely attainable this RnRC reimagining is simply being performed to placate Muppets followers and since Disney needs to ditch Aerosmith within the near-term. This complete nook of the park might be destined for one more objective, maybe a Marvel-ous one, someday within the 2030s after Villains Land debuts in Magic Kingdom. However I digress.
The extra time and cash that’s spent on Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets, the higher. If this can be a wonderful 6-month undertaking that installs Audio Animatronics and makes pretty bold modifications to the queue, pre-show, and post-show, that’s nice. If it in some way takes 11 months? Completely phenomenal.
Not solely does it imply that Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets shall be a greater attraction, however it will increase the probability that the fun trip will stick round for at the least a decade, maybe extra. The longer the closure and the extra money spent, the longer Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets sticks round.
My honest hope is that Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith closes on January 5, 2026 and Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets opens on December 11, 2026. That will be the best-case state of affairs primarily based on what we now know. I extremely doubt it’s going to be that massive of a niche between closure and reopening, however that might be the dream.
In the end, that’s a variety of prospects and it’s actually troublesome to foretell the almost definitely end result. My intestine is {that a} January closure that coincides with DINOSAUR (very same date) and reopening in time for Spring Break 2026 is Possibility #1. Alternatively, a closure round early to mid-August and reopening between Fall Break and Veterans Day is Possibility #2. I’m most likely about 50/50 on these at this level when it comes to probability–the latter makes extra sense, but additionally appears extra uncertain because it’s additional into the long run.
Though my worry is that the undertaking will be capable to be achieved solely in a single day (wherein case the timing might be at any time when), I doubt that’s the truth. Extra probably is that the RnRC reimagining necessitates a closure starting from a couple of weeks to a couple months. We already know that it’ll be lower than a year-long undertaking, however I’d guess on it being lower than a 6-month undertaking, with 3-4 months most likely being the candy spot.
The saving grace for Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets is that there are hardcore Muppets followers in Walt Disney Imagineering. That signifies that they’ll additionally battle for a wholesome funds, moderately lengthy reimagining, reusing parts from MuppetVision that might in any other case be discarded, and having as a lot distinctive Muppets humor as attainable. This being a ardour undertaking is an excellent factor, even when it’s achieved on a decent funds (that’s how we received PizzeRizzo).
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YOUR THOUGHTS
When in 2026 do you suppose Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith will shut? What about a gap date for the Muppets Mayhem model? Assume this shall be a brief reimagining or a prolonged one? Count on a gap by Spring Break or after Summer season? Huge funds or “no dough” undertaking? Are you upset concerning the Muppets changing Aerosmith, Monsters changing MuppetVision, or each? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!